Jack



March 15, 1927.

A. J. CARTER JACK Filed May 24, 1926 Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,620,755 PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA J". CARTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CARTER RADIO COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

JACK.

Application filed May 24,

My invention relates to jacks and more particularly to jacks which areused for the interconnection of electric circuits, such jacks being usedin a variety of ways in connection with plugs.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided a jack of this naturewhich, while not limited to such use, is of particular adaptability inconnection with its use upon panels; in one of its forms it is ofparticular utility in connection with radio circuits.

In the construction of jacks for use in connection with radio apparatus,it is necessary to build a rather compact type of jack and yet at thesame time one which, by reason of the basic nature of its construction,lends itself readily for use with different circuits by reason of thefact that the plug may be provided with all manner and sorts ofconnecting springs and practically without regard to the number of suchsprings employed.

It is a prime object of my inventionun the provision of a jack of thiskind to insure adequate insulating qualities and to secure theseinsulating qualities by reason of the structural design of the jackitself. Heretofore jacks of this nature have been constructed in whichan insulating tube or sleeve is relied onto provide the properinsulating qualities. The use of such a sleeve introduces assembling andother dlfficultles. In accordance with my invention I eliminate the useof such an insulating sleeve altogether.

I will describe one form which my invention may take more in detail byreferr ng to the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodimentthereof in which:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view of a jack constructed inaccordance with my invention, as mounted upon a panel;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; and

Figs. 3 and 4: are side views respectively of two of the contactsprings.

My improved jack consists of a basic rounded metallic sleeve portion 10having at its right hand extremitya screw-threaded portion 11 which inco-operation with the nut 12 and the interposition of the washerv 13 isdesigned for mounting purpose upon a panel 1 1. The sleeve portion 10also pref erably has a shoulder 15 which abuts the rear face of thepanel this shoulder and nut 1926. Serial No. 111,319.

holding the jack structure in position upon the panel. ,The basic sleeveportion 10 also has a rearwardly extending thimble portion 16 whichinsulatingly carries one or more connecting springs. Y

In the illustration I show my improved jack as having three connectingsprings respectively the springs 17, 18, and 19. I am using the termsprings to indicate these contacts or connecting elements because thatis a term generally used in the art although the connector 17 reallyrequires no spring action to perform its function as will be presentlyapparent. It might also be said that the element 18, in a certain mannerof constructing the device would not necessarily require spring actionto properly function. The element 17 as will presently be seen,

serves merely as a connector, the same being provided with a hole 20 towhich a conductor may be soldered. This element 17 consists of aplate-like portion 21 and its extending arm. The elements 18 and 19respectively have protruding connectors 22 and 23 respectively as willbe presently explained.

In accordance with my invention I construct the contact spring 19, forinstance, with a cup-shaped base 24 which cup-shaped base has an annularflange 25. The base 24 is also provided with a hole which as-is clearlyapparent from Fig. 1 is larger than the outer diameter of the thimble16. In a similar manner the element 18 has a hole which is also largerthan the outer diameter of the thimble 16 and has a cup-shaped baseportion 26 having an annular flange. 27.

Now in order to mount these two elements 18 and 19 in place, I firstsuperpose a washer of insulating material 28 upon the thimble 16 andarrange the same so that it abuts the collar 15. I then place theelement 19 into its position as shown in Fig. 1 and insert in place aninsulating washer and distance piece 29'. This washer 29 has a centralopening which fits the outer circumference of the thimble 16 withreasonable snugness. This washer 29 has a sufliciently large outerdiameter so that it fits snugly the interior surface of the flange 25.Thiswasher 29 is made of suitable material which retains its sizesufiiciently for practical purpose within the normal ranges oftemperature and humidity. Itwill thus be seen that the Washer 29prevents the element 19 from touching the thimble 16. The cup-shapedportion of the element 19 is thus permanently held in positionconcentrically to the thimble 16,, the two Washers '28 and 29 completingthe insulating mounting.

In a similar manner the cup-shaped portion of the element 18 is held inits concentric and insulating relationship by the Washer 30. Thereuponthe element 17 is superposed upon the Washer 30 and the extremity of thethimble 16 is upset as shown at 31 to hold all of the parts together,the completed jack thus having means whereby an electrical connectionmaybe made to the thimble through the interposition of the element 17and whereby electrical connection may be made to the insulatinglymounted elements 18 and 19 through the agency of the connecting elements22 and 23 respectively.

The elements 18 and 19 as shown are so arranged that their extremitiesnormally cont-actand that they are forced out of con-,

tact Whenever the plug is inserted in the thimble of the jack. It Willthus be seen that I have provided a jack structure in which the partscan be very easily and simply assembled together in permanentrelationship and with the necessary insulating qualities.

I From What has been thus described, the nature of my invention will beclear to those skilled in the art, and, having thus described oneformwhich my invention may take, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

'1. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact element insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan said thimble portion, an insulating Washer snugly encircling saidthimble portion, and peripheral means on said contact elementco-operating with said Washer to prevent said contact element fromtouching said thimble.

2. A jack of the character described hav ing a hollow metallic thimbleportion tl'irough which a connecting plug is adapted to project, acontact element insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said hollow thimble portion larger indiameter than said thimble portion, an insulating washer snuglyencircling said thimble portion, and means on said ontact element cooerating with said washer to prevent said contact element from touchingsaid thimble.

3. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble port-ion,a contact ele ent insulatingly mounted thereon, said con ,teiementhaving air-openin e circling said thimble portion larger'in diameterthansaid thimble portion, an insulating Washer snugly encircling saidthimble portion, peripheral means on said contact element cooperatingwith said Washer to prevent said contact element from touching saidthimble, and an insulating abutment for said element on the side of saidelement opposite to the side co-operating With said Washer.

4. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact element insulating-1y mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an openi' cling said thimble portion larger in e than saidthimble portion, an insulating Washer snugly encircling said thimbleportion, means on said contact element co-ope rating with said Washer toprevent said contact element from touching said thimble, and aninsulating abutment for said element on the side of said element-'opposite to the side co-op'erating with said washer.

5. A 210k of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact element insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan said thimble portion, an insulating distance piece snuglyencircling said tl'iinible portion and peripheral means on said contactelement co-operating With said distance piece to prevent said contactelement from touching said thimble.

6. A jack of the character described having a hOll'OW metallic thimbleportion through Which a connecting plug is adapted to project, a contactelement insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact element having anopening encircling said hollow thimble portion larger in diameter thansaid thimble portion, an insiiilat in'g distance piece snugly encirclingsaid thimble portion, and means on said contactelement cooperating With.said distance piece to prevent said 'c'on tact element from touchingsaid thimlale.

7. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact ele ment insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan said thimble portion, an insulating Washer snugly encircling saidthimble portion, and cup-shaped means on said contact element co-operating with said Washer to prevent said contact element from touchingsaid thimble,

8. A jack of the character described hav ing ameta-llic thimble portion,a Contact element ifns'ul'atingly mountedthereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan s'tld tllllnblfi portion, an insulating Washer snu ly encirclingsaid thimble portion, cupsh'aped means, on said contact elementc'ocperfatin with said washer to prev nt-said cont'actcement fromteaching said thimble,

and an insulating abutment for said element on the side of said elementopposite to the side co-operating with said washer.

9. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact element insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan said thimble portion, an insulating distance piece snuglyencircling said thimble portion, and cup-shaped means on said contactelement co-operating with said distance piece to prevent said contactelement from touching said thimble.

10. A jack of the character described having a metallic thimble portion,a contact element insulatingly mounted thereon, said contact elementhaving an opening encircling said thimble portion larger in diameterthan said thimble portion, an insulating washer snugly encircling saidthimble portion, cupshaped means on said contact element cooperatingwith said washer to prevent said contact element from touching saidthimble, and an insulating abutment for said element on the side of saidelement opposite to the side co-operating with said washer, said thimblehaving means to secure said element, washer, and abutment in placethereon.

11. A jack structure of the character described comprising a hollowmetallic thimble having means whereby it may be attached to a panel andhaving a rearwardly projecting hollow cylindrical portion through whicha connecting plug is adapted to project, a connecting springinsulatingly mounted on said rearwardly projecting portion andprojecting rearwardly into the path of a plug, and an insulating memberdirectly mounted on said portion for insulating said spring therefrom.

12. A jack structure of the character described comprising a hollowthimble portion having means whereby it may be attached to a panel andadapted to have a connecting plug projected therethrough, a contactspring insulatingly mounted on said hollow thimble having a portionthereof extending around said hollow thimble but spaced therefrom and aportion extending rearwardly into the path of a plug and means formaintaining said contactand hollow thimble portion in spaced relation.

13. An insulating mounting for a contact spring, comprising a base, afastening element extending outwardly from said base, an insulatingdistance piece snugly encircling said fastening element, a contactspring superposed on said fastening element and having an opening largerthan said element and smaller than said distance piece, said spring anddistance piece having interlocking means to prevent electrical contactbetween said fastening element and spring at their area ofjuxtaposition.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of May, A.D. 1926,

ALVA J. CARTER.

